Clinique Take The Day Off Charcoal Cleansing Balm for oily skin
Charcoal
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
Tocopherol
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other pre-cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate benefits for oily skin and oily shine due to the presence of charcoal powder, which absorbs excess oil and helps manage sebum effectively.
- Ethylhexyl palmitate and caprylic capric triglyceride are included for excellent makeup removal, dissolving impurities without causing irritation to your oily skin.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this makeup remover PM as the first step of your evening routine. Start 3×/week and increase to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this makeup remover before your regular cleanser and toner. It prepares your skin by melting away excess oil and makeup.
- Gently press a small amount onto your dry skin using your fingertips. Massage softly and avoid harsh rubbing to protect your pores.
- Apply this product on dry skin to effectively break down heavy makeup and surface oil. Massage it gently before washing it off with water.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin feels comfortable.
People Say
★4.1Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsThis balm is widely praised as a powerful first cleanse for oily and acne-prone skin, effectively dissolving stubborn makeup while using Japanese charcoal to detoxify pores. Users frequently note a messy trade-off, as the black formula can stain sinks and washcloths, and some find it slightly more drying than the original cult-classic version.
Highlights
Effective makeup removal Mostly Mentioned
- “melts makeup effortlessly”
- “removed waterproof mascara”
- “dissolves tenacious eye makeup”
- “takes off 98% of makeup”
Messy application Mostly Mentioned
- “stained my hands”
- “messy in the sink”
- “leaves black residue on towel”
- “looks like smudged mascara”
Deep pore cleansing Often Mentioned
- “pores feel clean”
- “helps with blackheads”
- “detoxifies skin”
- “unclogs pores”
Rinses clean Often Mentioned
- “no oily residue”
- “rinses off completely”
- “emulsifies quickly”
- “leaves skin soft not greasy”
Fragrance-free Sometimes Noted
- “love that it is fragrance free”
- “no scent”
- “great for sensitive skin”
- “doesn't irritate”
Drying effect Sometimes Noted
- “more drying than original”
- “skin felt tight”
- “stripped my skin”
- “not for dry skin”
Eye irritation Sometimes Noted
- “burned my eyes”
- “cloudy vision”
- “irritated my eyes”
- “stings if it gets in eyes”
Price Rarely Noted
- “pricey for a cleanser”
- “expensive”
- “small jar for the price”
- “waste of money”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, clinique.com, adorebeauty.com.au, nykaa.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Clinique Take The Day Off Charcoal Cleansing Balm work for oily skin?
Clinique Take The Day Off Charcoal Cleansing Balm works moderately well for oily skin, as its charcoal powder helps absorb excess oil while its oils dissolve makeup without causing irritation. However, because it contains rich oils that can feel too heavy, oily skin typically needs lightweight, oil-controlling ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to stay clear and fresh.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Charcoal powder helps absorb excess oil and manage shine on oily skin, while ethylhexyl palmitate and caprylic capric triglyceride dissolve makeup without irritating. Because this cleanser also contains richer oils that may not target oily skin well, a product for this skin type needs lighter, oil-controlling ingredients and refreshing cleansers that clear pores without adding extra weight.
What does Activated Charcoal do for oily skin?
Activated charcoal products are unlikely to improve oily skin or clear breakouts because they lack clinical evidence to support these benefits. Oily skin needs ingredients that help balance oil production and keep pores clear.
What does Safflower Seed Oil do for oily skin?
Safflower seed oil is a poor fit for oily skin because it tends to clog pores and feel heavy. A product for oily skin needs lightweight, balancing ingredients that control excess shine without trapping oil.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This makeup remover goes in the evening routine before your cleanser, and also as a weekly step. Oily skin needs a cleanser with charcoal and lightweight, oil-controlling ingredients to absorb excess oil and manage sebum effectively.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this makeup remover in your evening routine before your cleanser when using retinol, as it safely dissolves makeup without irritating your skin. Oily skin works best with cleansers that balance oil control with gentle barrier protection and lightweight hydration.
How often should I use it?
You can use this makeup remover in the evening to gently dissolve makeup and impurities without irritating oily skin. An average fit for oily skin like this needs ingredients like charcoal powder to absorb excess oil and help manage shine effectively.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This makeup remover is unlikely to cause irritation for oily skin, but reviewers sometimes mention a drying effect or eye irritation. Oily skin often benefits from lightweight hydrators and pore-clearing ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to help keep skin balanced and breakouts at bay.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Soap-and-water wash and superactive charcoal paste applied topically at various times after T-2 toxin exposure effectively reduced skin lesion severity in swine compared to untreated controls.
Fundamental and Applied Toxicology, 1989Safflower oil body-human epidermal growth factor microgel emulsions mixed with xanthan gum enhance transdermal absorption, regulate inflammation, accelerate angiogenesis, and promote re-epithelialization and remodeling in full-layer skin wounds in rats.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2022Topical application of an emollient emulsion containing 15.0% caprylic/capric triglyceride doubled the amount of urocanic acid isomers and increased skin hydration with reduced transepidermal water loss in healthy subjects, though it did not prevent ultraviolet-induced urocanic acid isomerization.
Life, 2023Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Sorbeth-30 Tetraoleate, Synthetic Wax, Peg-5 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Charcoal Powder, Tocopherol, Caprylyl Glycol, Water, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Phenoxyethanol
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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